A few of my homemade Christmas cards

I started early this year making my Christmas cards, and I've enjoyed the leisurely pace of making them. I usually wait until the last minute and then feel so rushed and pressured to get them all done! 

I started making in late October and finished up last week. 

 Here are a few of my favorites:

I LOVED this paper from The Paper Studio, 12 Days of Christmas (with the old cars).

Vintage images I found on Pinterest.

LOVE this vintage image from The Old Design Shop. I added lots of gold glitter.

More paper from The Paper Studio and I used a die cut to cut this scrolly design from gold foil paper.

Another darling image from The Old Design Shop. I added glitter to her dress. The background paper is some free digital Christmas paper I found online. I printed out several sheets to use on my cards.

These are papers and images and sentiment tags I bought from  Polly's Paper Studio on Etsy. Her kits are wonderful, full of 4x6 papers, vintage images, sentiments and bows. This link will take you to her Jolly St. Nick Creativity Kit ($9.50). 

Two years ago, I bought a kit from Polly's Paper Studio that was her "pink Christmas" kit. Here are two cards I made from that kit.... but I hoarded them for two years because I loved them so much! I finally sent them out this year.

I found some wonderful digital Scandinavian papers and images to download and use, from  Free Pretty Things for You.  I didn't have enough cards to send out to use all of them, but here is one card I made using the paper that I printed on my printer, and the Merry Christmas sentiment (below).

I love this cute little rubber stamp I got at Hobby Lobby on sale for 50% off!

Here's a photo of the graphics package that Free Pretty Things for You showed on her blog. I think they are there for a limited time only:

Since I am of Scandinavian descent, I absolutely LOVE these graphics and papers! I just want to print them all out and post them on my wall where I can see them. They give me such joy to look at. Here are a few others for your viewing pleasure:

Just glue one of these to a white card base, add some glitter, and you're good to go!

If you go to the Free Pretty Things for You blog and can't find these to download, or they aren't offered anymore, let me know, and I'd be glad to email you any of the ones I downloaded.

Maybe my next post I'll have our tree up. It's still in a box in the garage. Darn........

 

Double box card kit and other projects.

Even though I haven't posted too often lately, I really AM busy making stuff! I don't know how life can be so busy when I'm supposed to be retired!

Here are a few things I've made. If you want a tutorial on any of them, please post a comment and let me know and I'll be happy to do a tutorial.

MINI JOURNAL BOOKLET FROM 12X12 SHEET OF PAPER:
(There are many YouTube videos out there on this little pocket album - search for "pocket mini album using one 12x12 sheet of paper".) I've been meaning to do a written tutorial on this but so far just haven't done it! let me know if you want one.

This is a little envelope that is open on the top that slides into one of the pockets.

This little album mostly consists of journal tags, but a person could also add some photos in the pockets.

"YOU'RE TWEET" CANDY POCKET:
(From Pootles Paper Craft Watercolour Chick Treat Bag video tutorial on You Tube).

I slipped two mini Peppermint Patties inside, punched a hole in upper corner and tied this onto a gift to use as a gift tag.

CARD KIT IN A DOUBLE BOX:
(Anna Powell on YouTube has two wonderful videos Card Box Part 1 and  Card Box Part 2. Very easy to follow and so fun to make!

This is a good sized box - holds two sets of A2 cards, side-by-side, or one side holds the cards and the other side holds embellishments for the kit. The box is about 9" x 11".

On the left side, I have put in eight cards and envelopes. The right side is divided into two sections to hold tags and embellishments.

I made four each of two kinds of cards that have a watercolor look. I got these free watercolor wreath printables from the website Free Pretty Things for You, go to her webpage here, and The Cottage Market, go to the webpage here. I mean.. it looks like I did the watercoloring right on the watercolor paper I used! Her artwork is awesome!

Their wreaths had quotes inside, such as this one:

but I opted to just use the wreath and erased the quote from the middle using my "Paint" Program.

This watercolor flower bunch also came from Free Pretty Things for You as a free printable download called Spring Watercolor Floral Spray.

 

I added lots of little goodies and embellishments to make your own card, such as sentiment labels, tiny bows, vellum butterflies, and some goodies from a Becky Higgins Project Life "130 pieces kit". 

BRIDAL SHOWER VINTAGE CARD:

I used some GORGEOUS DCWV Papers from the Midnight Berry 12x12 paper pad, some gold glitter paper, a doily that I inked with dark brown and a photo made to look vintage, of my dear soon-to-be niece-in-law!

This girl really has been busy! These are not all of the projects I've been working on!. I also managed to go with my sister to a weekend scrapbook retreat here in Madras. We had a great time!

Let me know if you would like further instructions on any of these projects.

 

Unusual 3D Photo Display using cardstock.

If you don't watch Sandi Genovese's video tutorials, you're missing something! She used to have her own TV show in the mid-2000's that I couldn't get enough of! She is such a multi-talented artist and educator, and so very original. She performs papercrafting miracles of all kinds. I so admire this lady!

I recently followed one of her vidoes (link below) and made the unique little "3D Photo Display" that she taught.  Here is hers:

Here's mine. Of course, I had to make it a little more "shabby" looking.

You can go to this link for the 3D Photo Display on Sandi's website where the video for this project is posted. It's so fun and easy and only uses one sheet of 8-1/2 x 11 paper and a few pieces of coordinating paper, plus whatever embellishments you want to use.

You just set the photo on a little shelf (it's not enclosed behind glass or plastic), so you can change it out easily whenever you want! Very ingenious. It would be perfect to place your child's or grandchild's school photos on. 

See the little "shelf" below right? (green).

Easily holds a 4x6 photo, set lengthwise or up and down... or would hold two smaller photos.

I used some little chipboard butterflies and buttons on the bottom, and placed a cardstock butterfly cut-out on the top left, with another chipboard "Photo Op" piece on the top left.

Sandi's signature colors are lots of red and pops of black which she usually puts some white stripes or polka dots on with her white gel pen. Love it!

Accordian file folder of hers.

Quickie Notebook of hers.

I just so admire Sandi Genovese, and I've made more than one of her unique projects. You can go to her website Sandi Genovese dot com to sign up to follow her Newsletter. You'll receive a FREE project tutorial about once a week or every two weeks in your email inbox. If you want to, you can also sign up to be a Gold Member to receive more videos and tutorials.  

Sandi also has a wonderful Facebook page HERE where she posts all of her projects (and you can post  yours).

The most recent project on her website is the Waterfall Card with Tags. Just darling... and innovative.. and I want to make one very soon!  You can find it HERE.

Waterfall Card with Tags.

This is not a paid Promotional post! I just love Sandi Genevese and her unique and fun projects. I have admired her for years, and just wanted to share one of her projects that I made. I'm going to be making some more in shabby pinks to match  my pink bedroom.

Check out her website and tutorials. You'll love them!  Let me know if you make anything of Sandi's. I would love to see it.